It’s better to get killed right away than to try to figure out modern social work technologies using official language. In the midst of social experts, internal fuss about professional terms has not yet ended, so let's try to figure out the definitions ourselves. It will be easier for us if we start with the theoretical justification of new trends in working with people of today.
New approaches and application of social work technologies
In short, we are talking about merging theory and practice. About a new friendship of the concepts of “technology” and “social work”: this friendship is by no means accidental. Social activity keeps pace with the general processes of technologicalization in various fields of nature transformation. Humanitarian management disciplines make a significant contribution to the modern technological revolution and the transformation of the world around a person. As for social disciplines, there is a theoretical justification for this.
Human activity differs from animal activity in only one property: it always has a purpose. Expediency is always present in any of our actions: we know the result that we want to get after they end. Moreover, we often plan resources and methods by which we achieve our goals.
Three typical models
So, human goal-setting fits into three groups of modern theoretical models:
- Objective goals that can be called "superhuman." Many theories and concepts fit into this model: from religion to attitudes of scientific and technological progress. Many are drawn to such goals; they can be called truly social.
- The most “unconscious” part of the models: these are human adaptive goals for environmental factors, this is an individual and most often unconscious reaction to external changes.
- Within the framework of these models, a person tries to realize his own concepts of complete, beautiful, good, and so on. The basis of such models is always a value system. These are the most “inspired” models.
It is clear that the mechanisms that determine the social behavior of a person are extremely diverse and numerous. And this fact in no way facilitates the work of social technologists who try to influence human behavior in the right direction.
That is why the very first thing for you and me is to understand and accept the incredible complexity and variety of objects of social activity. From this point of view, we will try to give the first wording: the technology of social work is a way of influencing a particular social object.
Now I need to say about social objects: the formulation is terrible, but these are the same old people, children, youth and people with various types of disabilities or developmental peculiarities. In other words, all those who need additional support for survival or a relatively comfortable existence in this world.
Three rule blocks
The technology of social work is also clearly defined fundamental rules and basic methods, which can conditionally be divided into three blocks:
- A systematic study and updating of data on both modern society and individual social objects - the components of this society. This is the most important condition for the effectiveness of any social work: not only is behavioral science far from complete study and perfection, so society is constantly changing. Yesterday's public attitudes may simply stop working today.
- Systematization of processes and procedures is the second prerequisite for success. Despite the huge variety of phenomena in human behavior, they must be classified into groups or classes, to determine the general typology of types of technologies of social work. This is the only way to get a real technological approach.
- Mandatory presence of practical skills of communication with social objects - with people. Theoretical knowledge is one thing, good communication technology is another. Both aspects are needed, without them - nowhere. Full and effective interaction with customers is the main guarantee of success.
One cannot do without a technological approach in modern social work for one more important reason. This is the limited resources of influence while the growing problems of today's world. From this position, we can talk about the necessary optimization of the production of social services - this is a normal "production" position.
Terms and definitions: we do not believe anyone, we are not afraid of anyone
In the network you will find a huge amount of materials on this topic. Unfortunately, not all of them can be classified as reliable and of high quality. The fact is that “social and technology” is one of the most favorite topics of all kinds of course, abstracts and scientific articles. It is understandable: the topic is new, fashionable, not fully developed and not understood by everyone. This opens up endless possibilities for network charlatans and pseudo-experts. Just type in the search bar, for example, “methodology and technology of social work”, in a second you will receive more than two million links. One needs to sell term papers, the other - to throw a bunch of useful tips. One of these is by no means to confuse “social work technologies” with “social technologies” with long and incomprehensible explanations of why these are completely different concepts.
Our answer will be simple: do not believe, do not react and confuse yourself with your health. Otherwise, you will earn a complex of your own inferiority: it’s practically impossible to understand what is written in student essays and university collections. Do not worry, it’s not sawdust in your head, it’s internal workshop drilling and expert competition - who will say better and more incomprehensibly.
And we will read and deal calmly. Let's go further.
The essence of social work technology
First, let's give an example of professional terminology. This is a rare masterpiece:
“Social technologies in the broad sense of the term are a special kind of social theory that, after understanding the questions about the qualitative and quantitative determinacy of the studied social phenomenon, raises and substantiates the question of how and in what sequence specific operations with the results of cognitive activity are possible.”
Now try it yourself. There are high theoretical meanings. But there is real earthly practice with basic experience. Both that, and another are connected with work with people. So, social technology is a strong and easy bridge between theory and practice. In other words, any practical activity aimed at any changes in people's lives should be justified and regulated. Instead of doing “if only it was better”, you need to do “as expected”.
Rules, procedures, standards and percentages of achieving the expected results came to the world of emotions and high moral impulses of the soul. And this is a very positive phenomenon, because in social work the risks of “harm instead of helping” are always extremely high. This can happen due to elementary ignorance or lack of theoretical training with the best of intentions.
Social Technology Classification
Systematization of technologies is carried out according to a variety of criteria: by the type of knowledge, the type of objects or phenomena, the scale of the impact and many other signs, the article does not have enough space to list them.
Here is an example of a typology on the scale of impact, where the technology of social work is a solution to universal human problems:
- Global social technology.
They work on global trends. Their direct or indirect influence consists in changing the life of people in general and in the world, raising their social self-awareness and, most importantly, security.
An extremely fashionable and promising section, which uses territorial features and trends in the social life of the regions. Influencing and changing regional reality on the one hand is easier thanks to the clear area of ​​its borders. On the other hand, there are difficulties: each region is unique, so you have to reinvent the wheel every time, or rather, its regional style.
- Local social technologies.
This is a solution to local problems that can fit into the framework of classical sociology, but can be unique, requiring non-trivial solutions.
Types of social activity by criteria
- Innovative technology of social work - these are methods aimed at implementing completely new mechanisms aimed at improving the quality of life in various fields of social activity.
- Routine methods have not gone anywhere and have every right to exist. All of them are based on past experience and therefore have a serious advantage over innovation: they have already been tested. An example of technology for social work with the elderly is appropriate here: this is one of the most famous and developed social sectors of activity.
- Information technologies in a social application have certain features: they are aimed at activating the creative potential of people, at intellectual stimulation.
- Historical technologies are designed to ponder and comprehend historical events from the point of view of social changes in society.
- Demographic methods are very special tools aimed at changing the size, composition and location of various population groups. One way or another, it is also a form of social technology.
- Consent technologies are an interesting part of working with various social groups. These are solutions to conflict situations and other issues related to the public life of society. This is a search and agreement of the majority.
- Political and administrative managerial social methods can also be very diverse, but all of them are in direct influence on the object.
- Psychological methods work within the psychological aspects of personality. They are widely used, for example, in the technology of social work with children.
Social work as an academic discipline
As already mentioned above, the topic of social technology is fashionable and new. Another feature is its hybridity: many social and human sciences intersect here: from classical pedagogy to network methods of working with youth. This kind of discipline leads to an extremely lively balance with supply and demand: it is popular among students and applicants. Therefore, there are also a lot of offers on the network on this topic. This situation discredits the very essence of the approach and, in addition, contributes to the growth among students of naked theorists who have no idea about practical work with vulnerable groups of the population.
Disabled, old people, children
Technology for social work with the elderly involves a new and extremely advanced concept of support for this group. This is a new aging model with a long phase of active old age with self-realization and personal responsibility for oneself. It all sounds great, it remains to realize the concept in reality. Without real social integration of older people into society, nothing will come of it.
Technologies for social work with disabled people are quite well developed in comparison with other sections of the topic. All of them are divided into exactly three groups of methods of influence:
- All medical activities aimed at improving health outcomes.
- Training for people with disabilities, including vocational and labor, on preferential programs and special quotas.
- Social orientation with the help of psychological support.
The technology of social work with children is being developed taking into account children's social problems, which are caused by completely objective factors. Children, first of all, are dependent on their parents - both biologically and physiologically. Due to age, the child has limited ability to adequately respond to external changes and, most importantly, to objectively evaluate himself and his actions. This is the least protected group in the face of any social disaster.
The methods of working with children are as follows:
- psychological, aimed at the inner world of the child and his system of values;
- pedagogical to enhance educational and intellectual levels;
- medical;
- legal - for legal protection of the interests of the child;
- economic - to ensure material well-being and economic conditions;
- group - to work with the environment of the child.
The main thing is to create the most suitable conditions for the child to study and develop in accordance with the program of his social and professional training.
Now youth
This is the most voluminous and promising sector of social interventions in any civilized state today. In Russia, the technologies of social work with young people are just beginning to take more or less clear outlines; they have not yet taken shape. You need to hurry with this: the social problems associated with this address group have always been specific. And today they are becoming more diverse, deeper and more global. One increase in HIV infection is worth it.
Additional difficulties with this group stem from the fact that young people in no way ask and do not expect any interference in their lives. No volunteers among vulnerable groups: most types of social activity are perceived with hostility. The introduction of new positions in educational institutions responsible for social work has not yet brought any visible changes. A well-prescribed technology for the work of a social educator for secondary schools is waiting for well-educated people who can implement this strategy in practice. At least progress is evident.
Technologies for social work with people in society who require support from the state are part of modern social strategies that have an explicit technological character and a scientific approach.